Science University Research Symposium (SURS)
Publication Date
Fall 11-24-2025
College
College of Sciences & Mathematics
Department
Psychological Science, Department of
SURS Faculty Advisor
Lingfei Luan
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Moral judgment in legal decision-making is influenced not only by the evidence presented but also by emotional and attentional processes. Prior research has shown that physiological arousal during exposure to emotionally charged or socially relevant information can shift the way evidence is evaluated and weighted in decision-making (Armstrong & Olatunji, 2012; Godwin et al., 2016). However, few studies have examined how autonomic arousal relates to guilt decisions using real, high profile case materials. We were interested in examining how possible exposure to violent content on social media might desensitize individuals, like jurors, leading to lighter judgments for serious crimes. This project investigates whether autonomic arousal, measured as electrodermal activity and heart rate, can predict moral judgment when evaluating legal evidence, and how that relates to level of social media use. Participants will view surveillance images, crime scene photographs, witness statements, and forensic reports from a real high-profile criminal case while connected to physiological monitoring equipment. EDA responses, changes in respirations, and heart rate changes will be recorded as participants process each piece of evidence, followed by a final guilt judgment. With the integration of multiple physiological measures and context-rich legal materials, a more valid model of juror decision-making can be achieved. We expect emotionally salient evidence to elicit heightened physiological arousal, with stronger arousal responses predicting higher likelihood of judging the suspect as guilty. This study clarifies how emotional responses and social media use can be linked to biased legal judgments, providing insight into how jury instruction, bias awareness, and wrongful conviction rates can be improved.
Recommended Citation
Laskey, Audrey G.; Cannon, Kyra; Sanders, Josette; and Luan, Lingfei, "Visual Attention, Emotional Arousal, and Moral Judgment in Legal Evidence Processing" (2025). Science University Research Symposium (SURS). 259.
https://repository.belmont.edu/surs/259
